Meet Christy Hoss-Children's Author and More

 

Hello everyone! Jill here, for my first interview for the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction. I plan to focus on children’s Christian fiction and perhaps some children's nonfiction from time to time. As the children’s Christian market continues to grow, I look forward to bringing you some excellent examples of this exciting genre. 

 

Parents and grandparents everywhere see the necessity of presenting Christian books to children. If you’re one of them then you’ll love this author. For my debut author interview, I chose someone special to me, Christy Hoss. Christy is one of the editors who assisted me with my first chapter book. Her patience and perseverance gave me the confidence to keep working to make it the best book it could be. 

Welcome Christy to the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction, and thank you for agreeing to visit with us today. We’re interested to learn more about you and how you began your writing journey. 

 The oldie but goodie question, what inspires you to write?

 

I was inspired by my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Olson. She had a writing contest, and I won first place with a story about my dog Noodles. I won a picture of my favorite animal, a giant panda, and encouraging words from Mrs. Olson: “You’re going to be a writer one day. That was 1972. I dedicated my second book, The Rubber BandStretches- Rocky’s Story, to her. I never forgot that dream she instilled in my young heart and mind. I began actively writing 15 years ago, attending writing conferences and learning the craft. 

To really answer the question, I’d say my characters inspire me to write. I love creating their unique situations and personalities. Each character will have their own book, and once I get started on writing one, I can’t stop. It’s addicting. 

I’m so blessed to have a very strong support group of writers to inspire me as well. One of our members has been writing for more than 40 years and is a New York Times bestselling author. 

 

Teachers play such an essential role in children’s writing success. I know you’re a former school teacher, as am I. Who knows, someday we may hear of former students who became writers!

How long have you been writing?

 

I feel like I have been writing since the moment I could hold a pencil in my hand. I used to write romance stories in fourth grade and would write them for my friends too. I’ve been actively pursuing my writing career for the past 15 years.

 

Do you only write children’s novels?

 

I am currently writing middle-grade novels for children, but I dabble in romance novellas and hope to have some of them published soon as it is a series. I wrote a romantic thriller, Palms of Death, and self-published it.

 

Who has been the most significant influence on you in your writing? 

I have had a few writing mentors from my experiences at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Brandilyn Collins gave me the best advice, to put hooks on the end of every chapter no matter what genre you are writing. They keep the reader engaged. Mary Demuth was another mentor that taught me how to write a captivating first page to pull the perspective reader into your book. Francine Rivers is my current mentor and part of my writing critique group. She truly is a wonderful friend, woman of faith, and confidant that will always let you know what she thinks of your project. She loves my characters and already has them grown up and married. She also endorsed my first book- I am so blessed from God to have such a gift.

 

Who is your favorite author?

 

I love Francine Rivers and Brandilyn Collins.

 

What is the hardest part of writing a book for you? 

 

Putting my butt in the chair. I am highly distracted by the many projects around the house that call my name. If there is a puzzle lying around, begging me to finish it, I can’t help but put some pieces in it before I write.

 

Do you have any projects you’re working on right now?

 

I am writing the third book in The Rubber Band series called The Rubber Band Slingshot Summer. I’m also completing a romance novel, the first in the My Heart series called Fair Well My Heart. I am working on my personal memoir paralleling The Wizard of Oz to what has happened in my life. Last but not least, I am working with an illustrator for my picture book, My Question for Jesus.

 

                                                     

Wow! All of those projects sound exciting. I’ve learned writers usually have several projects going at one time, and you sure do have your hand in many different areas. I look forward to seeing these titles when they come out. 

 When you work on these projects, would you say you are a night owl, an early bird, or some bird in between?

 

 I used to be a night owl keeping my husband awake, but as I grow older and go to bed earlier, I am now a morning person.

 

With all these different interests, what is your all-time favorite book? 

Little Women.

 

If you could talk to any author for a sit-down chat, who would it be?

 

C.S. Lewis, because I love The Chronicles of Narnia. As a kid, I devoured his series.

 

When we worked together, I found out you had a rescue dog. I would love to hear more about him. How long have you had him and how does he help you? 

My dog Aiden is a service dog. I’ve had him for 4 years, and he is six years old. He comes from Dogs for Diabetics and smells my blood sugars dropping, alerting me before it becomes dangerous. He alerts by grabbing a padded bar that hangs from his collar. At home, he will go get my glucose tablets and glucose monitor when he senses I’m low. 

I do have two rescue dogs. 12 years ago, I fostered dogs for a rescue. The first one we fostered was a pit bull mix that survived distemper and had a lame leg and a nervous jerk that made him look like he was in constant seizure mode. His name is Sparta. He is now 12 years old, having learned to live with three legs and outgrew his nervous twitch. The second dog I’ve had since he was four weeks old. I bottle-fed him and three siblings until they were old enough to be adopted. He was the last one left, but I don’t think he wanted to leave us because the night before the rescue, he got sick from eating a carnation variation in my garden. In the middle of the night, I took him to the emergency vet. It cost $600 to get better. Since I paid the bill, I declared him mine. He looks like the Egyptian God Anubis, so that’s his official name, but we call him Newbie. He’s a terrier/chihuahua mix.

 

I’m amazed at the idea of a rescue dog helping someone with diabetes. I’m sure he’s one remarkable fella. It sounds like the other dogs have a place in your heart also.  

Since people love to hear about food, here are some quick and fun questions. 

 

Coffee drinker?

 

 I gave it up due to circumstances when I got Covid- Now, I drink tea and feel healthier.

 

Do you like to cook? 

 

Not at all.

 

What is your favorite dish to prepare? 

 

Popeye’s Lasagna

 

Favorite restaurant? 

 

Boudin – San Francisco

 

Strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

 

Escargot on a cruise ship. Upon picking up the second snail, I noticed it still had its antennae, and all I could think of was the snails from my garden. I lost my appetite immediately and shared the rest of the dish with my older family members.

 

 

Thanks, Christy, for taking the time to share a little about yourself with us here at the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction. It was a lot of fun learning about your writing and about Aiden! We look forward to all the wonderful projects you have planned for the future. 

To be entered for the newest book, The Rubber Band Stretches, Rocky's Story, leave a comment and your email address. You can also leave your name and email address on our contact form on the left if you prefer more security. One person will be selected for the giveaway. Please comment because we need five people to constitute an official giveaway. Thanks! 

The following are Christy's contact links if you'd like to know more about her and her amazing dog, Aiden.

christyhoss.com

 

https://www.facebook.com/christyhossauthor 

 

https://www.instagram.com/christyhossauthor/

 

https://www.elklakepublishinginc.com/christy-hoss/

 

https://www.pinterest.com/hosswriter/boards/

Mission-minded Messages with Shirley Gould + a Giveaway

Welcome back to the Diamond Mine, friends. We are so grateful you continue to visit us each week and hope you have discovered some new favorite authors through us.

This week, I am tickled pink to introduce you to Shirley Gould and her latest books (yep, you read that right. Books, plural), and she's giving one of our readers copies of both.

About Shirley

Shirley Gould is an inspirational speaker, an African missionary, and an author. She’s the founder of Kenya’s Kids Home for Street Children, an orphanage in Kenya. Shirley has written non-fiction for thirty years and is presently writing Christian Fiction novels. Her debut novel, The Sahar of Zanzibar, was released in May 2021. Her first children’s book, Tubby Can’t Swim, was released in February 2021. She lives in the Nashville, Tennessee area.

Connect with Shirley: Amazon | Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram

And Now for the Interview

Suzie: Welcome, Shirley, and thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to spend the week with us.

Let’s warm up with a few “would you rather” questions. Are you ready? Here goes: Would you rather live somewhere it is constantly summer or constantly winter?

Shirley: I’d rather live where it is constantly summer…in fact, I’ve already done that while serving as a missionary in Kenya for ten years. You can eat watermelon all year around!

Suzie: One of my favorite things about summer is the abundance of fruit.

Would you rather always say everything on your mind or never speak again?

Shirley: I would rather say what’s on my mind than to never speak. 

Suzie: Would you rather be without internet for a week, or without your phone?

Shirley:  I would rather be without the internet for a week than to be without my phone because of keeping in touch with my family.

Suzie: Sometimes taking that break from the internet is best for our sanity, anyway.

Ok, now that we’ve learned some random truths about you, give us some of the basics. Tell us about your family, day-to-day life, hobbies, etc.

Shirley: I’m a widow…I have three daughters, three sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren.

I run a ministry that helps orphans in Kenya. I write as often as possible. I also love oil painting.

Suzie: What are three books on your tbr right now?

Shirley: Three books on my tbr pile right now are

*DEAD EVEN by Susan Sleeman in the Truth Seekers Series

*SOME BRIGHT SOMEDAY by Melissa Tagg

*Rereading the 3rd book in The Bradford Sisters Series, by Becky Wade…I’m watching how she wove the characters of each book into the other volumes…like I’m doing in my African Skies Series

Suzie: Some good choices there. Can you share a little about your journey to publication? Who are your mentors and cheerleaders?

Shirley: I’ve studied the craft of writing for eight years with Susie May Warren and Novel Academy. I write my novels according to her The Story Equation method of writing. 

My late husband was the first to love my prose…now my family and friends are my faithful
cheerleaders, but the teachers of Novel Academy have been my mentors on this publication journey.

Suzie: Your newest release, The Sahar of Zanzibar, is set in Africa (as the entire African Skies series will be). Will you share an experience or two you’ve had with the country?

Shirley: As missionaries, my husband and I were one of three missionary couples that held the first open-air Christian Crusade in Stone Town on Zanzibar Island. 

While setting up for the service, a Zanzabarian grandmother brought her granddaughter to me. “Can your God heal?” was her question. I answered her in Swahili, “Yes, He does.”

She said, “Ask Him to heal my granddaughter.” I explained how the afternoon would transpire, there would be music and singing, the minister would preach, an altar call would be given asking those who want to give their lives to Jesus to come forward. Then He will call for those who need to be healed. It is then that you can bring her forward to be prayed for.” She nodded and said she would wait. I asked her the child’s name and why she needed healing. She said, “Her name is Happy and she is completely deaf.”

When the minister gave the appeal for those who wanted to be saved, the grandmother came forward with Happy. I was playing the keyboard for the altar time…watching Happy. Suddenly, she covered her ears with her hands. Her eyes were wide. She had been healed before anyone prayed for her.

Happy became one of the most successful witnesses on the island. Without fear, she would speak to Muslims. “Why are you praying to a dead god, my God heals. I was deaf—now I can hear.”

I put Happy in my novel. She is working as a tour guide in the story.

Another story…After the crusade, we had no place to build a church. All land was owned by Muslims…except one plot of land. 

In the late 1800s, a Protestant missionary martyr, anti-slavery crusader, David Livingstone, lived in Zanzibar. Since it was a law that every person who lived there had a place to be buried…the Parliament gave a plot of ground next to the Anglican Church so  David Livingstone and any other Christians would have a burial spot. They had the Anglican church take care of the property…mowing the lawn and keeping the perimeter fence secure. 

After our Crusade, leaders in the Anglican Church came to the man who was sent to pastor the new converts and gave him this plot of ground. They were tired of taking care of it for over one hundred years…

That is where the church is in my novel…

Suzie: Such powerful stories!

In addition to writing romantic suspense, you also published a children’s picture book in 2021 and you are a popular speaker. What is/has God teaching/taught you in each of those areas?

Shirley: Yes, Tubby Can’t Swim was published this year. It’s a colorful book that encourages children to be the best they can be, tell them that everyone is different, and shows friends trying to help each other. It is the first children’s book I’ve written in a series of ten books featuring African baby animals. 

Speaking gives me a great opportunity to share my passion for the Lord. I also can tell about my writing and have book signings after I speak at churches, ladies retreats, and women’s conventions. 

So many that have followed our mission career are interested in the many adventures I share as I speak with the purpose to challenge them to make a difference with their own lives.

Suzie: What can readers expect next from you?

Shirley: I’m doing edits on my next novel, Escape from Timbuktu, the second novel in my African Skies Series. I’ve written the second book Ollie Tries to Fly in my series of Children’s books. It is ready to go to the illustrator.

Suzie: Goodness, you are one busy lady! The final question I have for you today is: how can we pray for you?

Shirley: I would ask for prayer as I market and sell these books. I’m finding marketing is much harder than writing the book.

Suzie: Boy, isn't that the truth? 

Thank you again for taking the time out of your packed schedule to share some of your experiences, your heart, and your writing with us. We look forward to learning where God takes you next.

About The Sahar of Zanzibar

In a scary case of mistaken identity, Olivia Stone is threatened by Aga Kahn, a powerful Indian ruler, because she could pass as the twin of the missionary's deceased wife. Kahn calls her the Sahar of Zanzibar who has returned from the grave to torment him and demands that she leave the island or face his wrath. She'd come to exotic Zanzibar in search of adventure, but she experiences much more.

A handsome widower, Missionary Eli Deckland, steps between Olivia and the angry Indian, rescuing her. There's an instant connection between Olivia and Eli that escalates when he comes to her rescue again and again. Amid the chaos, Eli tries to prove Kahn murdered his late wife. After several attempts on Olivia's life, she's kidnapped. Eli joins the police to find her before it's too late.

As every moment passes, Olivia's life is in more danger... Will she be saved in time? If she is rescued, would it work between her and Eli? With an ocean keeping them apart, will their feelings fade? The answer is in the African skies... 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | IndieBound | Goodreads

About Tubby Can't Swim

A hippo who needs to know how to swim because hippos stay in the water all day. His friends teach

him how to swim, but it won't work. The wild owl tells him hippos don't swim, they just stay in the shallow waters.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | IndieBound |Goodreads

Giveaway

One winner will receive autographed print copies of The Sahar of Zanzibar and Tubby Can't Swim! by Shirley Gould. Giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only and ends at 11:59 PM EST, Tuesday, 8/31/21.

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